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I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children[a] walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father.(A) But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another.(B) For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;[b] this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk.(C)

(D)Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the antichrist.[c] Look to yourselves that you[d] do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense. (E)Anyone who is so “progressive”[e] as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.

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Footnotes

  1. 4 Some of your children: this refers to those whom the Presbyter has recently encountered, but it may also indicate the presence of false doctrine in the community: the Presbyter encourages those who have remained faithful. Walking in the truth: an expression used in the Johannine writings to describe a way of living in which the Christian faith is visibly expressed; cf. 1 Jn 1:6–7; 2:6, 11; 3 Jn 3.
  2. 6 His commandments: cf. 1 Jn 3:23; 2:7–8; 4:21; obedience to the commandment of faith and love includes all others.
  3. 7 The antichrist: see 1 Jn 2:18–19, 22; 4:3.
  4. 8 You (plural): it is not certain whether this means the Christians addressed or includes the Presbyter, since some of the ancient Greek manuscripts and Greek Fathers have “we.”
  5. 9 Anyone who is so “progressive”: literally, “Anyone who goes ahead.” Some gnostic groups held the doctrine of the Christ come in the flesh to be a first step in belief, which the more advanced and spiritual believer surpassed and abandoned in his knowledge of the spiritual Christ. The author affirms that fellowship with God may be gained only by holding to the complete doctrine of Jesus Christ (1 Jn 2:22–23; 4:2; 5:5–6).